The keyword phrase functions as a compound proper noun. It identifies a specific individual, United States Capitol Police Officer William "Billy" Evans, within the context of the civic holiday Patriots' Day. The term refers to the specific events and observances connecting the officer to that day.
Officer Evans, a native of North Adams, Massachusetts, was killed in the line of duty during an attack at the U.S. Capitol on April 2, 2021. On April 19, 2021the date of that year's Patriots' Day observance in Massachusettsa formal police procession escorted his remains back to his hometown. Patriots' Day commemorates the first battles of the American Revolutionary War, and this solemn procession merged the state's historical observance of heroism with a tribute to a contemporary fallen hero.
The conjunction of these events created a unique and poignant local significance. The holiday, which honors revolutionary sacrifice, became the backdrop for mourning a modern public servant who died protecting a democratic institution. Consequently, the phrase specifically references the media coverage, community tributes, and official ceremonies surrounding Officer Evans's final journey home on that historically significant day.
